PICKIN' AND GRINNIN'

Purposely Negligent

“Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.” (Jeremiah 48:10)

God divinely appointed the utter devastation of Moab because of their rebellion against Him. A curse was pronounced on those who were to do the work of the Lord but who lacked diligence to perform His Word — to those who were purposely negligent and only partially obeyed God’s command.

Let that sink in a moment. While doing so, reflect on the age in which we live, the events of recent days, the response from the church and religious leaders. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you will easily see a reflection of the past in current events. Not merely a shadow, but a reflection which brings perspective to God’s response to those who are called to do His work taking His command half-heartedly.

A few chapters earlier in Jeremiah, there is an account that captures the reality of how many people, both believers and unbelievers, respond to God’s Word:

“...It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.” (Jeremiah 36:22-24)

Isn’t this what is happening among many religious leaders today? Men of fame who are promoters of “peace” and “fairness” and “equality” take the Bible (the scroll) and as it presents Truth, and through time they’ve taken a knife and cut out the portions they don’t want to hear or consider old-fashioned and throw it in the fire. They aren’t afraid—they’ve lost their fear of God and no longer mourn over sin. They simply don’t acknowledge those things which God has plainly stated are abominable to Him.

If your pastor or church leaders, teachers, counselors, mentors or spiritual authorities are guilty of manipulating the Word of God to infer things which God never intended, it’s time to take a stand. As believers, we can no longer tolerate piece-mealing God’s Word to accommodate our personal beliefs or sympathies.

“All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16)

Man was not given a literary license to tear apart God’s inspired Word to ease his conscience or to prove a point. There is no such things as a pair of holy scissors that come as a package deal with God’s Word.

God’s Word is inspired by Him, through vessels He appointed and anointed to transcribe His Word into written record which has withstood the test of time. It’s time we fearfully discerned what God gave to us as profitable for our training in righteousness so we are equipped to do that which God has called us to do — be a light against the backdrop of darkness in this world.

I pray we are not found guilty of pickin' and grinnin’ while reading God’s Word as if some of it is old-fashioned or misinterpreted or it reflects some human phobias or discriminations. It’s time we allowed God’s Word to transform our minds instead of allowing ourselves to be conformed to this world by picking and choosing what parts of God’s Word we consider worth believing.

Don’t be slack in accomplishing God’s will. Don’t neglect to obey God’s Word. Honor Him by honoring His infallible Word!